The Centre’s decision to invite two representatives from each political party to the all-party meeting on the Telangana issue on December 28 is expected to provide respite to at least three parties _ Congress, TDP and YSRCP _ which having been avoiding to declare their unambiguous stance on the issue of state’s bifurcation.
Soon after receiving letters from the Union home ministry, the nine recognised parties have reacted differently. While the parties with ambivalent stance reacted cautiously, separatist parties came down heavily on the Centre for inviting two representatives from each party.
T RIPPLES IN CONG: The Congress is witnessing T-ripples within the party as the Centre’s decision has not got down well with Telangana leaders. From MP G.Vivekananda, MLC K Yadav Reddy and others insist that the party leadership spell out its stance in unambiguous terms at the meeting irrespective of the number of representatives it sends to the meeting.
Seemandhra leaders, however, have welcomed the Centre’s decision. “Some people want Andhra Pradesh remain intact. Some others want a Telangana state, Some others want Hyderabad to be made a Union Territory. So, whoever represents the party at the meeting should express all these views,” said minister Sake Sailajanath. Though these leaders sing different tunes along regional lines, all of them say one thing in common, that the party high command’s decision on the matter will be final.
At the last two all-party meetings, N Uttam Kumar Reddy (Telangana) and Kavuri Sambasiva Rao (Seemandhra) represented the Congress. But, with Kavuri distancing himself from the party now, there is a big question over who will take his place.
TDP IN FIX AGAIN: With the Centre’s invitation to two members from each party, the TDP is in a fix again. Since all the leaders of the party from the Telangana region have already declared that their party will send only one representative to the meeting, it is to be seen what plans TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu has up his sleeve.
Party MLA Revanth Reddy said the party chief would take the decision on the number of representatives to be sent to the meeting after holding a meeting with leaders from all the regions on December 26. The party is likely to send Revuri Prakash Reddy as its representative if it decides to send only one member.
TRS SEES DRAMA: The TRS has become more sceeptical about the commitment of the Congress to resolve the issue. T Harish Rao said the Congress was playing another drama by inviting two members from each party to the meeting. He demanded a clear-cut stand by the Congress, TDP, YSRC, MIM and Lok Satta Party irrespective of the number of representatives they wanted to send to the meeting. Otherwise the people of Telangana would teach them a fitting lesson, he warned. Another MLA, KT Rama Rao, demanded the attendance of presidents of the Congress, TDP and YSRC at the meeting.
YSRCP UNDECIDED: The YSRCP is demanding that the Congress express its stance first. Congress MP Sabbam Hari, who is close to YS Jaganmohan Reddy, said, “It is the UPA which should take a clear decision on the Telangana issue. The issue will not be solved merely by gathering the opinions of all the parties. If two members are allowed from each party, then they will definitely express two different opinions in accordance with the views of the people of all the regions.”
BJP MAY SKIP MEET: The separatist BJP is planning to skip the meeting altogether as it feels that no decision will be made at the meeting since the Congress is not committed to state’s bifurcation.
Party state president G Kishan Reddy said they would take a decision whether to participate in the meeting or not after consulting their high command. He wanted Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to participate in the meeting and clarify her party’s stance if the Congress was really serious about the matter.
CPI NAMES ITS REPS: CPI, the pro-Telangana party, has decided to send its state unit secretary K Narayana and party floor leader in the Assembly Gunda Mallesh to the all-party meeting in Delhi.
CPM TO DECIDE TODAY: The CPM demanded a clear-cut proposal from the Centre to resolve the Telangana issue before holding an all-party meeting. The Marxist party, which stands for united Andhra Pradesh, will finalise the names of its two representatives to the meeting on Thursday. One of the two could be the party’s state secretary BV Raghavulu.
MIM & LSP: The MIM does not want the present state disturbed. If at all division is inevitable, it might bargain for a Rayala Telangana where there are pockets of sizable Muslim population. The Lok Satta Party, which favours grant of statehood to Telangana, wants a clear proposal from the Centre at the meeting.
MIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Lok Satta Party president Jayaprakash Narayan are likely to represent their parties at the meeting.